Anantara’s Elephant Parade is Coming to Bangkok

18.09.2015

Cindy Sirinya Bishop

Some of Thailand’s top celebrities and artists are joining Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas to bring Elephant Parade, the world’s largest open air art exhibition, to Bangkok. There will be 88 life-sized brightly decorated elephant statues on display in honour of the 88th birthday of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The exhibition will see a herd of 1.5 metre brightly coloured elephants which have been specially decorated, hand painted, and made for Thailand. They will be exhibited in key locations throughout the city, staring on 1st December 2015 at Parc Paragon at Siam Paragon, the first world-class luxury shopping centre in Thailand, until the 18th. Afterwards, the herd will move to Asiatique, the first and the biggest lifestyle project in Asia on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, from the 20th December 2015 - 11th January 2016 before moving on to Lumpini Park, the largest and oldest park in the heart of the city, from 15th - 29th January 2016.

Saharat “Kong” Sangkhapreecha

The first major Elephant Parade was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in 2007 and has since been exhibited throughout some of the world’s largest cities including London, Amsterdam, Milan and Hong Kong. The Bangkok Elephant Parade will be a first for Thailand and the only one for Bangkok.

The event was originally created after founder Marc Spits and his son Mike visited the Friends of the Asian Elephant hospital in Lampang, Thailand, which treats sick and injured elephants. There they saw Mosha, a baby elephant who lost her leg after stepping on a landmine when only seven months old and was the first elephant to receive a prosthetic limb. She is fitted with a new leg every year, and must then learn to walk all over again. Mosha is always features in each Elephant Parade exposition and will have a specially Thai themed painted prosthetic leg for the Bangkok Parade.

Tony Jaa

Artists from all walks of life have been busy designing their elephants, each an original piece of art to paint a brighter future for the county’s national animal. Famous Thai supporters of Elephant Parade Bangkok include such as:

“I am so excited and honoured to be chosen to be one of the artists for the Elephant Parade. What a wonderful way to get people talking and taking action in elephant conservation,” Actress and Elephant Parade Bangkok Ambassador, Sirinya Bishop said. “The elephant is our country’s national animal and symbol, but somehow this once-revered and noble creature is now forced to beg for food on the busy and dangerous streets of the capital. I truly hope that this magnificent colourful pachyderm parade will raise the awareness and inspire us all to take more concrete steps to ensure their survival and wellbeing.”

In February 2016 a selection of elephants from the parade will be auctioned off at a charity gala dinner at Anantara Siam Bangkok with the proceeds going to the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation who in turn will select and fund a range of sustainable programs that benefit the elephants of Thailand including, Wildlife Alliance, Freeland, WildAid, Think Elephants and Thai Elephant Therapy Project.

Nirut Sirichanya

The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), was set up in 2006 to improve the plight of Thailand’s elephants, and has since been diversified to include welfare projects that incorporate broader philanthropic and cultural objectives with unprecedented success.

William E. Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, the parent company of Anantara, Hotels Resorts & Spas, commented, “As a company, we are always looking for like minded partners who share our true passion in saving the Asian elephant and Elephant Parade has long been known for its elephant conservation efforts in Thailand, which is why we feel this partnership is the ideal fit. The more awareness that is raised on the plight of domestic and wild elephants in Thailand the better the chances we have for their survival. I can’t think of a better way to raise awareness than bringing the largest open air art exhibition in support of Asian Elephants to Bangkok in 2015.”

Cindy Sirinya Bishop

“Elephant Parade is very proud and excited to team up with such a great company as Anantara and The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. We share the same commitment and values in helping save the Asian elephant, ultimately from extinction. We’ve travelled all over the world with Elephant Parade and now it feels like we are coming home, with our upcoming event in Bangkok. I am sure this exposition will be our most exciting and colourful one to date,” Mike Spits, Elephant Parade® Founder.

Chanisa Kaewruen, Deputy Managing Director Marketing Event and Business Relations Division of Siam Piwat Company Limited., said, “We are proud to be a part of giving support in hosting the Elephant Parade® Bangkok. This exhibition is destined to pay homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s eighty-eighth birthday anniversary on the fifth of this December. The event also aims at raising funds for the world’s biggest campaign for giving support to elephants. We are ready to give our support for the space to host the exhibition. Siam Paragon, as the world-class shopping destination in Bangkok, has the full potential and readiness for being a centre of hosting this exhibition—both in terms of personnel and facilities. We hope to make the event run smoothly and are willing to be a spokesperson who promotes and show the power of love and compassion among Thais toward elephants. They really deserve conservation. We expect this exhibition will create a very good impression and encourage the general public to give more their love and protection to elephants. Finally, this event also provides a good image of Thailand.”

Elephant Parade Tuk Tuk

Mr. Edmond Neo Kim Soon, Chief Executive Officer Chang International Co., Ltd., on behalf of Chang beer, the sponsor of Elephant Parade® Bangkok, stated Chang is glad to be a part of Elephant Parade, the first of its kind in Thailand. He added that Chang, as one of the main sponsors of Thai national soccer team, has invited soccer aces Therathorn Boonmathan, Kirkrit Taweekarn, Theerasilp Dangda, Sarat Yuyen, Narubodin Weerawattananodom, and Sintawee Hatairattanakul in a signing ceremony on an elephant statue. The event is a part of a fund raising campaign for Thai elephants. This is one of many corporate social responsibility events organized by Chang International Co., Ltd.”

Artist AJ Santi

“Elephants need our protection. Man kills them because of money; they kill them for the ivory and then sell it. We call it by such a beautiful name, ‘ivory’ but it’s just bone, what right do we have to kill them for a simple bone. Man also kills elephants because they need land to grow crops. The property is not theirs, it belongs to the Forestry Department and the elephant also is not theirs, so we have no right to kill them because of land issues. My design is about the truth. We need to protect these magnificent creatures. That’s why I have painted the symbol of protection on my elephant. The symbol means that elephants want to live in harmony with man and pray for the day that they won't harm them and that they will one day have a better life.”Nirut SirichanyaActor

Elephant Mosha

“Elephants have long played an integral part in Thai history and life, yet there are issues to be addressed in order to protect them. I would like to encourage everyone to discourage any activity that threatens their welfare or habitat. Through our combined efforts, we can look forward to a future where elephants are given the respect and care they deserve as the proud symbol of Thailand.”Pae ArakActor

Elephant Disco Disco

“In my life, I have spent a lot of quality time with elephants. I grew up in a mahout family and started my movie career with an elephant as a co-star. So I want to thank all the people and organizations who take the time and resources to ensure the safety of these intelligent creatures in Thailand and around the world.”Tony JaaActor, Martial Artist

Elephant Mangosteen

“As a citizen of Thailand, I have always been passionate about helping the country’s national animal and as a result I founded The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in 2006, in order to help improve the plight of Thailand’s elephants. It has since been diversified to include welfare projects that incorporate broader philanthropic, cultural and direct conservation objectives.To date, we’ve rescued over 40 elephants from Thailand’s city streets and 20 of those are now living in a jungle environment on the grounds next to Anantara Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai with their entire mahout family. The more awareness that is raised on the plight of domestic and wild elephants in Thailand the better the chances we have for their survival.”William E. HeineckeChairman and CEO of Minor International